FallMtg2a

1. Curriculum History

   A- Apprenticeship programs, ranging back to about 2000 BC. The Scribes in ancient Egypt took on indentured young people who, in return for food, lodging and minor housekeeping duties, learned the master's trade. Essentially unchanged until the 19th century.

   B- Philosophers Comenius and John Locke, (16th century) advocated the additon of manual training to apprenticeship programs. Samuel Hartleib suggested a college of agriculture.

   C- Early Industrial Revolution, (early 19th century) witnessed the decline of apprenticeship programs due to the perceived lack of need for skilled workers.

   D- 1876 Philadelphia Exposition, (late 19th century) was the site of the exhibit by Victor Della Vos, who demonstrated shops where carpentry, joinery, blacksmithing and metal turning could be taught to many by one instructor. The advantages were clear:

          1. the subject could be taught in the least possible time.
          2. many students could be taught at one time.
          3. the characteristics of sound, systematic aquisition of knowledge could be provided.
          4. the teacher was able to determine student progress more easily.

2. Curriculum Models

   A- Traditional Curriculum
          1. Teacher centered
          2. University driven
          3. Tests and grades are abstract and norm referenced
          4. Curriculum is classroom based

   B- Individualized Learning
          1. Popularized by the "teaching machines" of the 1960's
          2. Most successfully used in SRA reading programs and other "programmed texts."
          3. Migrated into CAI (computer assisted instruction) during the late 1980's.
          4. Characterized by "LAPs," or Learning Activity Packets

   C- Mastery Learning
          1. Promoted by Benjamin Bloom, a 1950's educational psychologist most widely known for "Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives"
          2. Originally advertised as "80% of the population can learn 80% of the material given the appropriate time and resources." Currently upped to 90% in some sources.
          3. Currently a very popular philosophy with the "back to basics" people.

   D- Competency Based Vocational Education
          1. Student Centered.
          2. Industry Driven.
          3. Tests and Grades are Performance-Based and criterion referenced.
          4. Curriculum has a major potential to be individualized.
          5. Massachusetts History
               a) 1981 State Director's meeting
               b) 1982 Training Grant given to Assabet Valley (Joyce Cunningham & Steve Pronovost)
               c) 1982 Development grant given to Greater Lowell (Sheila Herbert & Bill Burns)
               d) 1983 Tech support grant given to Cape Cod Tech (Ray Larrivee)
               e) 1989 Computerization of Curriculum (with Learning Guides) begun
               f) 1990 Reauthorization of Perkins Act brought an end to CBVE grants
               g) 1991 Vocational Education Regulations changed requiring CBVE vocational programs
               h) 1991 Chapter 74 & Perkins requires Integrated Academic & Vocational instruction
               i)   1993 Education Reform Act requires academic instruction to be "peformance based"